Think the National Enquirer is just a checkout-line tabloid? Think again.

While the reputation of the publication hasn't always been sterling, it's still in the running to receive a Pulitzer Prize for its breaking coverage of the John Edwards scandal.

The Enquirer is nominated in two categories: Investigative Reporting and National Reporting.

This news comes after initial reports that the Enquirer's submission packet would be tossed out because of a variety of technicalities, one of them being a quibble over whether or not the Enquirer is actually a newspaper or more of a magazine. Prize rules indicate that the Pulitzer can only be given to a newspaper or news site that is published at least on a weekly basis.

However, it has since been determined that the Enquirer is a newspaper, and therefore will be judged in the competition accordingly.

The sometime profane, wise-cracking redhead is tackling a dramatic role on “Law & Order: SVU.” She’ll appear March 3 on an episode of the popular show portraying a gay activist who lays a lip lock on Detective Olivia Benson, portrayed by actress Mariska Hargitay.

Griffin, who has found fame mocking her status in Hollywood on her Bravo reality show “My Life on the D-List,” told the New York Daily News that she approached the role very seriously and did not want to let down the cast and crew.

"My mind is programmed to go for the joke,” she said. “My whole life is looking for the joke, but this was no joke. I didn't want to disappoint them." FULL POST